Anyone here an avid bird feeder guru?

What types of feed would you suggest putting in the feeders?

 

Guru? Sorry, no, but do I go thru a couple hundred pounds of seed per year, and use only 2 types of seed; Oil Sunflower, and Thistle (Niger or Nyjer) Seed. The later attracts only goldfinches and chickadees while the former feeds everything else EXCEPT the "trash" birds like Starlings, and Doves. They can't get the seed open. I have several blocks of suet for the 'peckers and Flickers that frequent the area. Mix seed will only help to attract undesireable species. Thistle is very good for summer use as well because the parent finches eat the seed and make a milk to feed their young. Almost forgot, I also have several nectar feeders available for the 'Hummers when they arrive in May. I've discouraged the squirrels by hanging my feeders from 30' lengths of wire that I threw over limbs high up in the tree. For some reason, they won't attempt the descent down the wire to get to the easy pickings hanging from the end.

 

Milo is just filler for dumb city folks. Straight sunflower or niger thistle seed works best. I do put out corn for the squirrels too. I have a couple of feeders outside the window so I can type and watch at the same time. We get all the usuals finches, cardinals, snow birds, chickadees, flickers, and once in a while we get a ringneck pheasant or two and turkeys. NO Hoss, you can come here and hunt.

I also put out a heated dish for water. If you are a serious "birder" put out water and watch the action. The little buggers need to keep their feathers clean and drink too.

Niger thistle seed seems high, but it lasts longer cause they have to eat it one at a time with the tube feeders.

You are lucky to see so many blue jays. West Nile has really taken a toll on them.

In the summer we get tons of warblers, orioles, wrens, flickers, and blue birds.

Does anyone put up bluebird boxes?

We get Birds & Blooms magazine also. I highly suggest it, great source of info. Here is the link to their web site.
http://www.birdsandblooms.com/dycon....MCode=&OrgURL=

Great thread to start this time of year.

 

Since we move around a lot I was wondering how it would affect the birds to feed them for the short time we are in an area.

 

Doesn't bother them at all. Its a myth that they will starve because you stop feeding them. They will just find another food source. They pick out several places to feed, and make several stops in a day. Fresh water always attracts birds too.

Who knows they may follow you!

It's also a myth that feeding birds rice will kill them. Like at weddings, remember when we threw rice? The myth was it will kill birds because it expands? Right! The church janitors, tuxedo rental, and limo drivers started that because it cost too much, and it hard to clean up!

 

One of the funniest bird stories I have is every spring for the past 3 years a male cardinal will attack my CTD! I'm not kidding! The darn thing will see himself in the mirror and thinks another male bird is in his territory. He will attack my mirror for hours, get tired, and give up. The next day he is at it all over again. I get poop all over the mirror and side window!

Either that or he likes Ferds!

 

Thanks for the info. The kids bought me a bird feeder set up for the RV. I wanted to use it but didn’t want to leave the little guys in a food crunch if we had to move during the winter. I feel better about feeding them now. I just love birds they are so cool to watch.

Hey, if they want to tag along the more the merrier our RV is a rolling zoo anyway!

 

I assume you move around alot. I would get a set of binoculars, a digital camera, a good bird identification book, and keep a record of the critters that come for dinner and visit. Sounds like a great hobby to me! Better than playing slot machines at the casinos! And alot cheaper too!

 

I already do the camera thing. Get some good shots with the 10x zoom. Don't do casinos would rather be outside with the critters. They're much more interesting than some loud place full of drunks.

 

I have a bird feeder that has a squirel guard. The perch has a counter weight on the other end and when the weight is too much the perch drops down and has a plate that covers the feed holes. We don't have many squirels here but have a lot of finches, sparrows, etc. If I set it so ther are 6 or 7 birds raking out the feed I will go thru 20 to 30 lbs of feed a week. I set the counter weight real light so only one or two finches can get on it at a time and when the third bird comes along the door closes. It's so funny watching them when that happens cause they look around wondering what happened, then start fighting, then the door opens and they try to land and when it gets 2 or 3 birds it closes. It's real funny watching them. I'm sure they are frustrated birds, but at least they haven't used my truck for target practice yet.

 

I'm sending this on to CTD ( Central Tweedy Dispatch). They will BOMB your truck free of charge in the morning!

 

You got that right!

 

 

Thanks for the warning I'll get my tarp on my truck tonight

 

jlipskoc - the wife and I put up bluebird houses around the garden aimed slightly southwest. They get in there and help keep the bad bugs out. I like feeding the Doves too. I till up a spot about 10' x 10' and spread black oil sunflower over the fresh dirt. You'll have dozens of them coming and going early morning and mid/late afternoon.

Thistle adds up if you don't use the right feeder.

I hang my feeders from safety wire also to keep the squirrels out. However, I have a problem with deer hitting the bottom of one that I fill with sunflower and spilling it all on the ground. Happens about twice a month.

JKE